1
as in to moisten
to make or become slightly or moderately wet
dampen a paper towel with water and use it to clean up the mess
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to reduce
to reduce or weaken in strength or feeling
the oppressive heat dampened our spirits
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to undermine
to deprive of emotional or intellectual vitality
nothing could dampen their enthusiasm
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dampen
Late word comes out that SoCal’s Meghan Dizon is sick, forcing their sub Naomi Nguyen into action and really dampening their chances of another big weekend.
—
Todd Boss,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2026
That pillowy feeling is thanks to their dreamstrike+ foam, which absorbs shock and dampens the impact of each step—especially important when walking on unforgiving surfaces, like cobblestones or concrete.
—
Shannon Bauer,
InStyle,
28 June 2026
Tears suddenly dampen his face.
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Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
27 June 2026
While the decline in numbers has raised parent companies’ valuations, the slowdown has dampened the fundraising and exit environment for venture capital funds, said Lee Hyo-seob, senior research fellow at the think tank Korea Capital Market Institute in Seoul.
—
Lisa Kim,
CNBC,
24 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for dampen
Todd Boss,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2026
That pillowy feeling is thanks to their dreamstrike+ foam, which absorbs shock and dampens the impact of each step—especially important when walking on unforgiving surfaces, like cobblestones or concrete.
—
Shannon Bauer,
InStyle,
28 June 2026
Tears suddenly dampen his face.
—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
27 June 2026
While the decline in numbers has raised parent companies’ valuations, the slowdown has dampened the fundraising and exit environment for venture capital funds, said Lee Hyo-seob, senior research fellow at the think tank Korea Capital Market Institute in Seoul.
—
Lisa Kim,
CNBC,
24 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for dampen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dampen
Verb
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Cooks use honey to sweeten and moisten baked goods, mellow vinaigrettes, and balance sweet-and-sour sauces.
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Fan and towels There are dozens of cooling products soccer lovers can use to stay cool, such as portable fans and hand towels that can be moistened with water.
Verb
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New flyover ramps connecting to I-95 would also be built, while sound barriers would be installed along both sides of the corridor to help reduce traffic noise for nearby residents.
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The rich treatment balances strengthening plant proteins with nourishing rosehip and sweet almond oils to reduce breakage and replenish moisture.
Verb
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Context that undermines sensational allegations is minimized.
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Allies include Brin’s Building a Better California, which is bankrolling two counter-measures aimed at undermining the billionaire tax.
Verb
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People experiencing heatstroke can have hot, red, dry or damp skin.
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Find shade, rest, and use cool, damp cloths to lower your body temperature.
Verb
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Historically, after that period, the chances of survival without a water source diminish rapidly.
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Prolonged exposure to heat can lead to insufficient or poor sleep, compromising the immune system, increasing the risk for cardiovascular disease and diminishing cognitive performance.
Verb
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Vcg | Visual China Group | Getty Images BEIJING — China’s consumer spending slowdown persisted in June, with growth during one of the country’s largest online shopping festivals weakening sharply from a year earlier.
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All three of those protagonists have been weakened in their roles by what has gone on.
Verb
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The father, Marquise Anderson, said Joanna wet the bed on two occasions on a night in February at the house in the 1900 block of Daniel Street.
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Considerations Before Getting Started Before cleaning your sidewalks, gather some basic safety equipment such as gloves and eye protection, and protect plants and grass bordering your sidewalk from bleach and cleaners by wetting them down and covering them with plastic sheeting or old towels.
Verb
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Freezes caused by large cold fronts pushing into the state from arctic regions can ice over and deaden fruitful citrus trees.
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Exposing the dental pulp and cleaning out the cavity’s contents also would have deadened the nerves and blood vessels there, leading to pain relief, Zubova said.
Cite this Entry
“Dampen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dampen. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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